Filing apparatus



p 23, 1930. R. F. ONEIL 1,776,268

FILING APfARATUS Filed Feb. 27. 1929 C INVENTOR JLE OJVeiL ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES .REUBEN FRANCIS ONEIL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA FILING APPARATUS Application filed February 27, 1929. Serial No. 343,119.

storing of drug-store prescriptions, which apparatus includes an initial bill file and a subsequent'storing file, so related to each other that when the initial bill file is full the stack of papers thereon is removed as a unit and applied to the storage file without disturbing said stack. v

In this manner a single initial filing device is all that is necessary for any. one store, while any desired number of storage files, to cooperate with said single file and of relative simpler and less expensive nature, may be provided for use as the occasion arises.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the initial bill filing device, partly in section to show the detachable mounting of the spike.

Fig. '2 is a view of the spike and a stack of papers detached.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a spike and stack as applied to a storage file.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a storage filing arrangement.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the initial file unit is substantially the same construction as is shown in my Patent No. 1,7 05,306, dated March 12th, 1929. This device includes a portable hollow base 1 from one side of which a substantially vertical rod 2 projects upwardly.

This rod terminates at its upper end in a horizontal portion 2 overhanging the base and at the outer end of which a downwardly depending vertically adjustable guard cap 3 is mounted. The rod 2 may be swung to one side from a normal position by an actuating lever 4 projecting upwardly through the base and operatively connected to'the rod in the same manner andas fully disclosed in the above mentioned patent and for the same purpose.

The bill impaling spike 5 projects upward ly from the base in vertical alinement with the guard cap when the rod 2 and cap are in their normal positions. This spike is threaded certain distances from both ends and toward its lower end is adapted to pass freely through a boss 6 formed on the base 1. A permanently mounted nut or collar 7 is fixed on the spike above the boss and a removable nut 8 is normally threaded on the spike below the collar '7, with a removable washer 9 normally disposed between the members 7 and 8.

WVhen the spike is mounted in connection with the base the nut 8 is screwed up as close to the collar 7 as possible and its under side then bears against the boss; the lower end of the. spike then projecting some distance into the open space of the hollow base below the supporting boss. A removable sleeve nut 10 is then screwed onto the lower end of the spike and into clamping engagement with the under side of the boss to hold the spike in a rigid immovable position.

The file is then in condition to receive the prescription leaflets 11 or other papers which are impaled on the spike as received. In order to provide a gage forimpaling the individual leaflets at a predetermined point in the length of the same, the rod 2 is bent to extend somewhat close and parallel to the spike for a short distance both above and below the point of said spike as shown.

This portion of the rod therefore forms a stop for the edgeof each leaflet when the latter is inserted between the guard cap and the the base is raised, and they nut 10 is removed and temporarily applied to the upper end of the spike so as to keep the leaflets from com ing off the'spike while being taken to the sto rage cabinet C.

The cabinetis preferably divided into a number of compartments as shown in Fig. 4,

each adapted to receive a supporting plate or tray 12 for each stack of leaflets. The plate 12 is raised from the floor of its com:

partment a suflicient distance to freely receive the height of thenut 1O thereunder by end flanges or feet 13 on the plate, the rearmost of which engages a rotating lip 14 extending across the bottom of the floor at the back. The front flange has an opening to removably receive a spring catch member 15 of suitable character mounted on and projecting upwardly from the floor and acting in con. nection with the lip to detachably retain the tray against.displacement. An opening 16 is preferably cut in the floor of each compartment near the front so as to .enable the tray to be engaged by the fingers of the operator from below and pushed up so as to disengage the same from the clip. A holder 17 for a card to bear the necessary identifying data of thestack of leafletssupported by the tray is mounted on the front of the tray above the holding clip.

When the leaflet and spike unit are brought to the tray the latter is first removed from the cabinet and the nut, 8 andthe washer 9 are then removed from the lower end of the spike, the latter being inverted to facilitate this operation and the nut 10 preventing the leafletsdropping off. The spike is again upended, and the nut 10. is removed and is replaced by the washer and nut 7, which is turned down firmly tobind the stack of leaflets together as a compact unit, the washer being of course applied first and preventing the nut from cutting into and tearing the top most leaf as said nut is turned. The nut 7 remains undisturbed and practically forms a permanent stop or shoulder for the bottom of the stack. This operation completed, the lower end of the spike is inserted through an opening provided in the tray at the proper point and the nut 10 is reapplied to the spike I below the tray to secure the two together in rigid relationship. The tray is then .replaced in its compartment in the cabinet and the spike of an adjacent tray, which is to be used forthe next stack of leaflets, is removed from its tray together with the complement of nuts and is then applied to the original file base 1 in the manner previously set forth. The initial filing device is then ready to receive another stack of leaflets as they are received.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

l/Vhile thisspecificationsets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by therappended claims.

Having thus described my inventionwhat 1' claim, as new and useful and desireto. secure by Letters Patentis:

1. ,A bill .file including a vertical spike extending upwardly from the base, said spike being threaded, to the same size and pitch on both ends, a permanent stop above the lower end of the spike, said spike,

projecting freely. down through the baseiand the stop limiting the extent ofsuch projec ,base member a g r tion, .and a nut adapted to screw. onto the: lower end of the spike. to. clamp thestop against the base or tolbe applied to the top;

of the spiketo hold a stack. of. leafletsthere on against displacement when the spikeisdetached from the base. I

2. A bill file including a base member, a vertical spike extendingupwardly from. the base, said spike being threaded to the same size and pitch on both ends,,a permanent stop above the lower end of the spike, said spike projecting downwardly through the base and the stop limiting the extent of such projection, a nut adapted to normally screw. onto the lower end of the spiketo secure the same in detachable connection with the base, and an additional nutto removably, screw onto the upper end of the spike normally mounted thereon immediately under the stop.

3. A bill file including a base member, a vertical spike projecting upwardly therefrom, a rod mounted at its lower end on the base for turning movement about a vertical axis; said rod above its lower end being bent to extend parallel and normally relatively close to the spike for a distance above and below the'point of the same wherebyserve as. a gage for papers when being impaled on the spike.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 

